Islam Karimov said: “Please accept my sincere congratulations and heartfelt wishes on the occasion of twentieth anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Uzbekistan and Japan.”

“The interaction between Uzbekistan and Japan has ages-old roots that go back to the Great Silk Road, and history has preserved numerous unique facts of humanitarian and trade exchange, of interpenetration of our cultures, traditions and customs,” he said.

Uzbek President noted: “I would like to stress with a sense of immense delight that our times also have been distinct with vigorous growth and intensive expansion of longer-term and comprehensive bilateral relations, a logical and the most critical phase of which has come to be the Joint Declaration on Friendship, Strategic Partnership and Cooperation signed in 2002.”

“We highly value the considerable support and assistance provided by Japan, one of the leading global powers, in the making of independent Uzbekistan, primarily in the implementation of major vitally important programs in economic, investment and social spheres. We regard Japanese businesses, leading banking organizations and development institutions as reliable partners one can count on,” Uzbek leader said.

Islam Karimov stated: “The Uzbek delegation’s official visit to Japan in February 2011 demonstrated again the shared aspiration to inspirit a new dynamics to the open and prolific political dialogue, including that in the “Central Asia plus Japan” format, to the practical efforts toward enhancing the mutually gainful strategic partnership. The visit also underlined the concurrence and proximity of approaches by the two sides to current issues in regional and international politics.”

“Particularly noteworthy have been the activities of Uzbek-Japanese and Japanese-Uzbek committees for economic cooperation, the agencies that constitute a solid institutional backbone of interaction in this key area. The forthcoming joint work toward effective materialization of remarkable normative base of relations also deserves special consideration,” President added.

“I am convinced that, building on the common values and longer-term interests shared by our two countries, the traditionally friendly bilateral ties will continue to press forward in every way possible for the good of the peoples of Uzbekistan and Japan,” Islam Karimov underlined.

“Taking this pleasant opportunity, I wish a robust health and every success to You, and peace and prosperity to the people of Japan,” he concluded.

Yoshihiko Noda said: “Allow me to congratulate you genially on the twentieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and the Republic of Uzbekistan.”

Japanese Prime Minister stated: “Rather friendly bonds were set up between our two countries in the wake of Uzbekistan’s independence. Following the March 2011 earthquake in eastern Japan, we received warm condolences and assistance from Your Excellency and many other people. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude once more.”

“Your Excellency’s successful visit to Japan last February, the one that took place eight years after the previous one, has facilitated further enhancement of bilateral cooperation built on strategic partnership, including in economy, and afforded a colossal impetus to lift the relations to a higher stage of development,” he added.

Japanese official said: “Taking this occasion of the 20th anniversary of diplomatic ties, I would like to wish the relations between our two states as well as our two peoples keep bolstering. I look forward to enthusiastic cooperation with Your Excellency, including that in the framework of “Central Asia + Japan” dialogue. ”

He added: “Let me wish Your Excellency a sound health, every success, and prosperity to the people of Uzbekistan.”